Convention Round-Up: Let's Play Green Bay

I had the opportunity to attend the second annual Let’s Play Green Bay this past weekend (April 12-14).  Last year I only attended one day, but was able to finagle both Friday and Saturday this time around.  Conventions can be great fun and the large ones are mini-vacations, in and of themselves.  But they can be expensive and intimidating.  Smaller, regional, low-key events will provide much of the same flavor, if not all of the same thrills, in a more accessible and casual atmosphere.  You can also save on travel expenses by attending closer conventions – or as in my case, staying with family!

Kicking Down Doors and Taking Names (A Review of Munchkin)

Sometimes when you play a game, you're not looking for a cerebral experience or a tense strategic challenge.  Instead you're just looking to kick down some doors, fight some nasty monsters, and have a few laughs with your buddies.

Such a game is Munchkin, a popular card game that attempts to shave away complex RPG elements like stats, skills, and social role-playing, while capturing (and parodying) common fantasy RPG tropes such as leveling up, killing monsters, and scoring loads of useful treasure.

Entering Narnia

I like my "local" game store a lot.  I say "local" in quotation marks because it is actually more of a 50 minute drive one way with a significant portion of that time spent on a highway in order to visit the store.  Unfortunately, because of this, we only get out there once every few months or so as a special trip.  It makes it challenging to get into their boardgaming events or participate in any RPG groups.  Still, it holds a special place in my heart.